Chapter 28

Kilin had to admit some spiteful satisfaction in watching the soldiers give wary space around her and the other prisoners. The desperate hangers-on from other Fire Nation forces knew better than to piss off the regiment that was now leading them to safety.

Also, Xing ordering the execution of a few of them for trying to accost one of the prisoners might have something to do with it.

The boy made a show of having the scum bound and on their knees before a nervous Uki. The heavily battered soldiers had already been pummeled black and blue by the troops of the 11th who had all taken offense, and subsequently taken turns in making their offense known. That the pissants had tried to turn the blame on Uki for using waterbending to defend herself only earned them another round of beating.

Xing had offered the girl his blade. "Do you wish to do it yourself?" Uki had stared at the weapon, and then at the colonel, and finally shook her trembling head. "I understand," he answered with a nod, sheathing the blade and having the girl escorted back into her tent.

Then, before the scum could think they were saved by Uki's overly-generous mercy, Xing gave Kilin a casual glance. "Your folks prefer daggers or swords?"

"Daggers," came the unanimous reply from the older, angrier Water Tribe prisoners. Swords would be too fast, and more likely to get in each other's way. Yuka in particular was given a serrated blade to avenge the slight on her daughter, and Xing had the offenders tossed into the prisoner's mess tent. "Maybe gag them or something, so Uki doesn't get nightmares," he had brilliantly suggested.

It would be the first and last case of prisoner harassment, and after that incident, Kilin and her fellow prisoners enjoyed the fear their presence gave to the outsider soldiers. The haughty demands for healing turned into meek requests, and many didn't want to remove their pants out of some irrational concern.

After all, it was Yuka, a non-bender, that flayed the offending flesh into strips, not any of the waterbenders.

Even after Xing returned from his fight with Bumi - if anyone says 'alleged', they didn't know the reckless boy well enough - the state of fear remained, and none of the resentful commanders parasitizing off the 11th dared to wrest overall command of the group from the weakened colonel.

The poor boy was in a battered state and at the verge of suffering from cold exposure from his near suicidal firebending. As Kilin tended to him, she once again marveled that he was still alive at all, let alone being capable of firebending in the first place.

Xing's body was unlike any person the old healer has ever seen. His chi pathways were a tattered mess, with several routes somehow severed but not closed off. They were like an amputated limb that was not sewn shut, constantly bleeding out…and allowing things to bleed into them.

That was the only way he could do what he did in the first place, Kilin guessed. Otherwise, the damage to the boy's pathways ensured that he had no chi of his own to channel. Instead of a broken body, Xing was able to draw on…something to firebend, though the result was far more raw and primal.

And it was incredibly potent, enough for him to stand toe-to-toe with Mad Bumi of all people. The price was great though; the process of funneling so much chi through his body resulted in the leaching of his body's warmth. And like suddenly damming a raging river and having its banks violently erode, Xing actually caused more damage to his chi pathways by trying to stave off the cold from spreading through his body.

Still, perhaps it was better to endure some damage and pull off a stalemate, than succumbing to the cold and getting captured. From what she heard, Kilin didn't see the Mad King as the type to kill a foe that had amused him. Otherwise, Xing and the group would've been dead long before he had a chance to challenge him.

"You keep that up and eventually you'll be lucky to be a non-bender," she scolded her patient sternly. "As it is, you're lucky you only need a few days of rest."

Xing had the courtesy to look ashamed instead of throwing up any excuses. "I'll try not to do it again…"

The healer nodded at that. "See that you do." Kilin's voice and expression softened as she placed a comforting hand on his head. "I know you got a lot of people relying on you, kid. But that doesn't mean you have to be so…cavalier about sacrificing yourself. No one's asking that of you."

"It wasn't a sacrifice play," he muttered sheepishly. "I could've distracted Bumi if Koshi and the others had left…"

Kilin's eyebrow went up. "Yeah? And who's going to pick your tired body after that?"

"The hag's right, brat," Yama intruded suddenly. The old fart ignored her annoyed glare and sat down beside them. "They're your bodyguards, boy. Their first duty is to protect you, even if your orders tell them otherwise. Makes for shit bodyguards otherwise."

"Then I should be thankful they didn't try to interfere in the fight…"

The old general's head bobbed rather happily. "Normally, they'd deserve a lashing at the very least for not going in first, but you Fire Nation are such kindling that you should lash them instead for not dragging your sorry ass out of the fight in the first place."

Xing frowned at that. "We wouldn't have made it if we ran…"

Yama puffed up like a preening turtleduck. "Of course not! No twiggy Fire Nation soldiers have any chance against any self-respecting earthbender! At least it shows your men had their heads put on right to know they're doomed."

Immediately Kilin saw the boy's eyes glinting and a sharp smirk appear on his face. "What does that make you then, o captured general who lost duels to a non-bending brat?"

Caught in his own stupid propaganda, Yama sputtered, and Kilin heartily cackled at his impotent bluster as he got up and stomped away.

"In any case," the elder said once the general was gone, "Don't be too hard on Koshi and his team. They were rightly put in a hard place." Seriously, watching anyone challenging the king of Omashu to a duel was tantamount to letting someone walk into a rockslide.

"I'm not…" Xing said softly. "It was a stupid situation to be in."

Kilin chuckled, no grudge in her voice as she replied. "I'm sure you would know, considering how good you are at putting others in similar 'stupid' situations."

He laughed along with her, and slowly got up. "I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you for the healing and the counsel as always, Elder Kilin."

"Of course, dear. Don't forget to prod the old tigerdillo on your way out. I'll follow up on your healing tomorrow morning."

Watching the boy leave the tent to return to being a colonel, Kilin once more felt it a great shame that they were stuck in a war, and that the burden of leadership had to fall so early on such a competent child.

*****​

It had initially rankled that the 4th Regiment had been assigned to the second wave. Colonel Dao had almost thought he and his men were being overlooked due to some court intrigue again. But then young Xing had sent him a message and the old commander had a closer look at the overall plan, and then he felt relieved that he wouldn't be part of the first assault.

Oh, the potential of glory was there, even in defeat, but Dao had enough of falling back and struggling to keep his regiment's numbers healthy. He might not be as sentimental as Lidai, but it was only common sense to preserve the skilled troops you had under you for as long as possible.

It was a great shame that the war council were trying to shift their stratagems towards more callous, costly plans, probably to sate the Fire Lord's need to put an end to this long war. Still, it felt like the price of peace was getting higher and higher with each new order.

Unfortunately, as a mere colonel, Dao could do little but look after his own. Fire Lord Ozai was not one to take too kindly to differing views. The tragedy with the prince had made that fact brutally clear.

Well, at least there was still the crown princess, and reliable sources spoke highly of her capabilities, both in court and at the front lines. Much was said about her time with the 11th now-Royal Regiment, like how she shared the same tribulations as the troops as they marched, or how she bravely watched from the edges of the front line, and had stared down the insolence of General Meng as was her royal prerogative.

Some whispers dared to imply that she and Xing were close, with the princess promising anything up to her hand in marriage in exchange for the colonel's promise to lead her regiment to greater glory.

Dao didn't believe such rumors, of course, but Lidai's old command had been pulling off a lot of notable victories up until now to add legitimacy to the whispers. From capturing Chenbao (he could read between the lines for that one), to routing larger marauding armies (mostly filled with Earth Kingdom conscripts, but still impressive), to leading the vanguard and breaking through pitched battles, the rebuilt 11th Royal Regiment was proving its worth under its young colonel.

Now, Dao wasn't one for silly ideas with both Xing and the princess being young, but he had to admit to fostering the notion that the boy was taking a head start above everyone else in trying to woo her. Gaining her trust and impressing her enough that she offered her patronage, then taking her to the front lines to make her into a warrior princess while further showing off his prowess…

The chances of young Xing actually being betrothed to Princess Azula was slimmer than slim for now, and would remain so until he somehow got promoted to general or made into at least a marquis. And even then, they'd only get hitched if either of them managed to clear the field of more 'worthy' suitors for the princess' hand.

That did not mean Dao would be surprised if the princess started stocking up on certain herbs in a few years time if Xing remained in her favor. If he played his tiles right, the boy might end up having to regularly delegate his regiment while he…counseled the princess back in the capital.

Being a royal bedwarmer was a good enough goal to have, Dao thought, and wished young Xing all the best in achieving that. Spirits knows that the boy deserved at least a quick romp with royalty after the shit he's been through.

He was not only Lidai's boon, but had also saved Dao and other colleagues several times with brilliantly unorthodox plans. The boy literally saved Sho's meatless ass from earthbending raiders, stopped Koda's and Yashen's troops from being washed away from a sabotaged dam, and not only helped Dao remember his wife's anniversary, but offered excellent poems that greatly pleased Lady Dao.

The boy must have been truly touched by the spirits as Lidai suspected, because the words he lent to Dao actually made the missus overlook and offer Dao's second 'unexpected' concubine from the colonies into the household.

For saving his dick and balls from horrid castration, Xing had Dao's undying fealty. If the boy didn't manage to get the princess, then the colonel would happily offer to set him up with his granddaughters, all three of them even. It would be a good way to ensure that the girls would be well taken care of…

On the subject of good care, Dao gave a long, rumbling hum as he walked, directed at nothing in particular. Since the day was still young, the colonel patrolled the lines to monitor the construction progress in his section of the front line and boost morale a little with his presence. It was the 4th Regiment's turn to act as laborers and builders, while the 51st Grand Company under Colonel Hwa kept watch and served as the first responders to enemy attack.

His peer might be a frigid bitch, but Hwa was competent enough that Dao could spend time away from the command tent and trust her to do her job.

The 11th had been part of the First Assault Army, the very same one which had been effectively cut off days ago. Updates from messenger hawks presented the day-by-day collapse of the army, which resulted in General Chuo abandoning the Second Army's slow advance and settling in for an inevitable counterattack from a consolidated Earth Kingdom once they were done with the remnants of the First Army.

Dao had no doubts that young Xing would lead his regiment back to safety, as he had done many times already. It was what was hounding them and the other routing forces that was the worry. The Earth Kingdom had rallied a much fiercer and less sluggish defense than anyone (maybe except for Xing) had expected.

Ramparts of wood and metal were being raised to secure the territory gained so far. Hopefully the defenses would help alleviate some of the pressure from the daily probing attacks. The Second Army could not resort to much faster and equally effective trenches, because…well, earthbenders. Being crushed by the wall you were cowering behind, or buried alive by a tide of dirt, that was a good way to die.

Logs, planks and metal sheets would have to do for now, until the pressure has eased and skilled fort builders could be called in. At least wooden ramparts could be set alight as a last resort to slow a breakthrough.

A cry of alarm drew the colonel's attention, first to the watchtower that called out, and then to the sky the sentry was pointing at. A messenger hawk soared towards the Fire Nation's front lines. Dao immediately rushed to the roosting station, eager to see the latest report.

Hwa was there to personally receive the hawk, giving it an affectionate pet that was contrary to her usual cold self before she collected the message from the bird's back-strapped canister. The woman's eyes slowly narrowed into slits as she read, and towards the end her eyes shot open wide.

Unable to bear the suspense, Dao had to ask. "What's it say?"

Colonel Hwa looked up and offered the scroll of paper to him. "King Bumi was sighted in person in an Earth Kingdom retaliatory force."

Fuck.

"But supposedly your young friend personally turned him away in a duel."

Dao snatched the scroll and read it. The 11th was still on the run, with the Earth Kingdom still on their heels. Several enemy groups were stalled, but not fully dissuaded. Xing had encountered the Mad King of Omashu in one sabotage attempt, and supposedly managed to stalemate the king and convince him to turn his army back.

That sounded less of a stalemate and more like a heroic victory to Dao.

Oh, the 11th and its fellow stragglers should make it back here in a couple days' time, due to the Earth Kingdom armies in their way.

That made bitter sense. It wouldn't take much for the Second Army's daily harassers to turn about and try and catch the fleeing force. Xing would have to carefully navigate and fight his way through them, or risk getting too bogged down and subsequently surrounded.

Dao gave a huff and passed the scroll back to Hwa. "Right then. I'm going to send my boys out."

The other colonel stared dumbly for a moment before the words finally registered. "What? Are you crazy?"

"We need to keep the Earth Kingdom forces here pinned onto us, to keep them from going after our returning comrades."

"And you sending your regiment out to die will help do that?"

Dao grinned. "I didn't say I was ordering them into a fight. I just said I was sending them out."

That made the woman pause in thought for a moment. "That…makes some sense. But you'll be vulnerable out there."

"Bah, I'll just move out after fending them off today. Make it look like I'll be chasing them."

Hwa nodded as she saw the merits in his plan for once. "We can bring this up to the general, if other groups do the same as well, we can hopefully make the Earth Kingdom worry about another push and force the Earth Kingdom to hunker down a bit more."

"I'll be going out either way," Dao replied with a shrug.

The other commander rolled her eyes. "Fine. We'll swap duties today. My regiment will handle the defenses, you can get yours ready for a fight."

Dao stopped himself from placing a friendly hand on her shoulder, and settled for a bright smile instead. He knew his manners around women, after all. "Thanks, Colonel Hwa. You're not as cold a cunt as some people say."

The immediate knee into his balls suggested that perhaps he needed to expand his knowledge somewhat.